Kagyu Samye Dzong London
News

January 2006

Contents

1. The Magic of Mindfulness and Meditation
2. Chenrezig Puja Instructions
3. The Big 2006 Raffle
4. Forthcoming events

News in Brief

• We would like to wish all our readers a Happy New Year and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible down at the Centre during 2006. For now, that continues to be at Carlisle Lane until at least the end of March. Which leads nicely on to..
• A new program for the Centre covering February / March 2006 will be out shortly - watch this space! One of our hopes for 2006 is that we can gain a degree of stability that will enable us to offer a longer term program. Maybe this really will be the year in which we move!
• We are launching our big 2006 raffle this month to help with the move. There are some fantastic prizes which you can read more about further on in this newsletter.
• Finally, a reminder that the Introduction to Meditation course led by Lama Zangmo is now starting on Thursday 12th January and not the 5th as advertised in the printed program.

1 - The Magic of Mindfulness and Meditation

The Buddha was asked
"What do you and your disciples practice?" and he replied,
"We sit, we walk and we eat."
The questioner continued,
"But Sir, everyone sits, walks and eats." The Buddha told him:
"When we sit, we know we are sitting. When we walk, we know we are walking. When we eat, we know we are eating."

Most of the time, we are lost in the past and carried away by the future. When we are mindful and in touch with the present moment, our understanding of what is going on deepens, and we begin to be filled with acceptance, joy and peace."

Thich Nhat Hanh

Lama Zangmo will be leading a weekend focusing on the Magic of Mindfulness and Meditation on the weekend of the 7th-8th January. No prior experience needed - this weekend is suitable for all. You can book your place by phoning the office on 020-7928 5447 or by email.

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2 - Chenrezig Puja instructions

The Chenrezig Puja is one of the main practices that takes place at Samye Dzong on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday evenings from 7.00 - 8.00 pm. Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit) represents the loving and compassionate potential of the mind - qualities that we can develop in ourselves in a number of ways, including the Chenrezig Puja. How important is this? In his book "Chenrezig, Lord of Love" Bokar Rinpoche writes:

"..without love and compassion, every other practice, no matter how deep it may appear, is not a path to awakening; neither shinay (mental calming) nor meditations on deities nor exercises on subtle channels and energies..
Bodhicitta is the electricity of spiritual practice. If it is cut, nothing works anymore."

It is not necessary to have an empowerment to do the Chenrezig puja, and spare copies of the text are available in the Shrine Room.

If you would like to know more about the Chenrezig practice, Lama Zangmo will be leading a weekend of detailed instruction and meditation on the 21st-22nd January. You can book your place by phoning the office on 020-7928 5447 or by email.

3 - The Big 2006 Raffle!!
 
Money may not make the world go around (whatever Liza Minelli may have sung in Cabaret), but it certainly helps keep the Centre open - among other things, so this year we are having a truly fabulous raffle.
 
The proceeds from the raffle will go to two excellent causes:

• Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche's Labrang and
• establishing Samye Dzong London in our future home at Manor Baths

There are lots of fabulous prizes to be won, and with raffle tickets being only £1 each you can increase your chances of winning of one by buying as many tickets as you want. The more tickets you have, the bigger your chance of winning a prize.
 
Here are just a few of the most special prizes in the raffle:

• a large tiger rug  commissioned by Akong Tulku Rinpoche worth £500
• a unique 108 bead ruby mala with jade counterbeads and quartz gurubead worth £100
• a beautifully photographed  hardcover book  “Journey for Peace” by Manuel Bauer. it is a photojournal of a tour by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama worth £35
• a weekend of teachings at Kagyu Samye Dzong London worth £45
• a reflexology treatment worth £45

There are also consolation prizes, so there are lots of chances to be a happy, lucky winner.

The  sale of tickets will start on the new years retreat, and the winning tickets will be drawn by Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche during his visit here in the spring/summer (dates will be in our next programme which will be going out at the end of January).

Raffle tickets can be bought

• in the office at the Centre
• over the phone with a debit or credit card or
• by post - just send a cheque along with your details (name and address) and we will post you the tickets.

Good luck to all who take part!

4 - Forthcoming events

December

New Years Eve Retreat
with Ani Semchi
31st December, 10.00 am - 1.00 am
£25 for the full day, £10 from 7.00 pm
New Year is about celebrating the year gone by, as well as making resolutions for the year ahead - spending the last day of the year in meditation is a wonderful and positive beginning to the new year.
During the evening there will be a Guru Rinpoche tsok puja, a Chenrezig puja and a light offering at midnight, where you can bring candles and light them for worldpeace.

Ani Semchi, who has done a four-year retreat at Samye ling, will give meditation instructions and will be available throughout for questions and guidance. The retreat is suitable for everyone, whether beginners or seasoned meditators; buddhists or non-buddhists, all are welcome.

Please bring food to share for lunch.

January

The Magic of Mindfulness and Meditation
with Lama Zangmo
Saturday 7th - Sunday 8th January, 10.00 - 4.00 pm
£45
A weekend of meditation instruction to help in practical life situations, using simple techniques that have been tried and tested over the last 2,500 years. Suitable for all.

Introduction to meditation
with Lama Zangmo
Thursdays 12th - 2nd February, 7.00 - 8.30 pm
£40
This course will give a good foundation for meditation practice, with instructions on posture and breathing and some simple visualisation techniques.

Chen style Tai Chi
with John Henry
Sunday 15th January, 10.00 - 4.00 pm.
£25
A monthly class of Chen style Tai Chi.  Beginners welcome.

Chenrezi Instruction
with Lama Zangmo
Saturday 21st - Sunday 22nd January, 10.00 - 4.00 pm
£45
Chenrezi is the embodiment of limitless compassion. This course will combine instruction in the practice with periods of meditation.

Volunteer Weekend
Saturday 28th - Sunday 29th January - 10.00 - 4.00 pm
Please bring lots of energy and enthusiasm and we will provide good food and lots of tea (although if you really must have coffee we can probably dig some out).
Please let us know in advance if you would like to come.

About the Newsletter

This newsletter goes out to those who have expressed an interest in Kagyu Samye Dzong London. It covers news of the efforts and progress towards finding and funding a new site for the centre, and other events taking place in the coming weeks

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